THE VEGETABLE GARDENER’S BOOK OF BUILDING PROJECTS

FROM THE EDITORS OF STOREY PUBLISHING

THE
VEGETABLE
GARDENER’S BOOK OF

BUILDING
PROJECTS
Raised Beds • Cold Frames • Compost Bins
Planters • Plant Supports • Trellises
Harvesting and Storage Aids

39
ESSENTIALS
to increase the
bounty and beauty
of your garden

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 W HETHER IT'S A COLD FRAME for getting
a jump on the season; a rack for storing
rakes and shovels; or a sturdy, lightweight box
for gathering newly picked produce, the right
prop can save you time, effort, and frustration.
In this book you’ll find plans for 39 woodwork-
ing projects that fit the bill. From hard-working
essential equipment to complementary garden
furnishings, this collection answers every gar-
dener’s needs and dreams for a well-outfitted
haven for growing and enjoying a bountiful
harvest.
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Many of the projects can be made easily by
beginning woodworkers in a couple of hours,
and others will provide satisfying challenges
for more experienced craftspeople. To ensure
success, all the plans feature a shopping list of
materials (including the types and lengths of
wood you’ll need to request at the lumberyard)
cutting diagrams, and an exploded view for
assembly. There are also written instructions
and helpful building tips for every project. By
the time you’ve completed a project or two,
you just may discover that you have a brand-
new hobby along with a well-built garden!
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 CONTENTS
1 Building Projects for
PLANTING AND GROWING
Window Sash Cold Frame 18
Shallow Raised Bed 22
Deep Raised Bed 24
Classic Compost Bin 28
2 Building Projects for
HARVESTING AND
PRESERVING
Berry Box 86
Solar Dryer 88
Outdoor Storage Bin 90
New Zealand Compost Box 30 Garden Bench 92
Small Sifter 32 Handy Lightweight Bench 96
Large Sifter 34
Circle Plant Support 36

3
Triangle Plant Support 38
Building Projects for
Horizontal Tomato Support 40
Cylindrical Tomato Cage 42 RELAXING AND ENJOYING
A-Frame Bean and Pea Support 46 YOUR BACKYARD
T-pea Tower 48
Handy House 52 Picnic Table 102
Tool Rack 54 Adirondack-Style Lawn Chair 109
Potting Bench 56 Westport Chair 115
Lattice Shade Cover 60 Garden Swing 119
Hanging Planter 64 Pitched-Roof Birdhouse 126
Window Box Planter 66 Hinged-Roof Birdhouse 133
Square Planter 68 Nesting Platform 136
Rose Arbor 72 Platform Feeder 138
Garden Gate 76 Single-Sided Hopper Feeder 141
Gate Latch 80 Two-Sided Hopper Feeder 145
Weather Vane Feeder 146
Flower Press 148

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 Project No. one day
y

New Zealand
Compost Box
MATERIALS This type of compost bin has been a
Lumber
1"× 6" cedar (thirteen 8' popular choice for many years. It is easy
foot lengths)
Ten 2"× 2"× 3' cedar to assemble and use — particularly
balusters
when the compost is ready to turn. You
Supplies
One hundred twelve 1⅝" simply take the sides apart, reassemble
galvanized wood screws
Four 1¼ " galvanized wood them beside the compost pile, and fork
screws
Tools the pile back into the bin.
Tape measure
Pencil
Carpenter’s square
Wood saw Compost Materials
Power drill One of the great things about composting is the broad range
Driver bit to match of materials you can use to build the pile. Some of the more
screws common choices include lawn clippings, spoiled hay, garden
Hammer refuse, kitchen garbage, wood, ashes, and leaves. Almost any-
5 "
⁄32 twist drill bit thing organic will do, and the greater the variety the better
the pile. However, some items, such as meat, eggs, dairy prod-
ucts, and grease, can attract rodents and are best avoided.
It’s also advisable to forego any herbicide-treated plants.

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 Project No.5 NEW ZEALAND COMPOST BOX

S New Zealand compost box. The slatted sides of this box provide adequate air
circulation while reducing the visibility of the composting material inside it.

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 Cutting and drilling the lumber.
From the 1"×6", cut a 59¼"
length A and two 5" blocks B
for the support bar, and two
dozen 47¾" lengths for the bin
slats C, D, & F. Then predrill
screw holes in 6 slats for the back
of the bin and 12 slats for the
sides below. (See figs. 1 and 2.)
Cutting diagram
predrill screw holes
¾"
fig. 1
1½"
predrill screw holes
fig. 2
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Constructing the bin. Begin by
building the three fixed panels.
Start with the back, laying two
inside corners (balusters, E) on
a flat surface and attaching the
six back slats c to them. Screw
the first slat flush to the top ends
and side edges of the corners
and the second slat ½" up from
the bottom. Then fill in the space
between them with the remaining
four slats, spacing them about ½"
apart. (See fig. 3.)
Next, make up the two side
panels, but this time nail the
side slats D to one inside corner
(which will be positioned at the
front of the bin) and leave the
opposite ends of the slats unnailed.
(You will attach them to the back
panel once you locate the bin.)
47¾"
47¾"
Drive two stakes E into the
ground about 37" apart where
you want the back of the bin
to stand. Lean the back panel
against the stakes (the stakes
should be on the outside of the
bin), and screw it in place. Then
lean the side panels in place, and
fasten the loose ends to the back
panel corners. (See fig. 3.)
Create a channel in the front
corner of each side panel for
installing the removable slats
that will make up the bin’s front
panel F. To do this, attach
another corner board parallel to
the existing one, spacing the two
just far enough apart for a slat to
slide between them. (See fig. 3.)
predrill screw holes
¾"
3"
¾"
predrill screw holes
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 E

E
B
59¼"
E C D

D A

C
D
E

D channels for
attaching
boards

E
fig. 3

Next, partially sink 15⁄8" screws

into the ends of the six remain-
ing slats F so that the heads
are ½" above the wood (fig. 4).
F
The screws will keep the boards
properly spaced. Slide the slats
down through the channels (with
the screwed edges down). Finally,
screw a support block B to each
guide facilitates
end of the support bar A and set alignment of
screws
the bar across the top of the bin fig. 4
F
to keep the sides from spreading.
Drive a stake into the ground on
each side of the bin, and fasten ½"

the bin to it from the inside.

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 THE VEGETABLE GARDENER’S BOOK OF BUILDING PROJECTS
IF YOU BUILD IT,
THEY WILL GROW

Solar Dryer A-Frame Bean and Pea Support Window Sash Cold Frame

March
2010!
The Vegetable Gardener’s
Book of Building Projects
Full-color; photographs and illustrations throughout
152 pages; 8½ x 10‡/•

Paper: $18.95 US / $23.95 CAN

ISBN: 978-1-60342-526-1
No. 62526

Publicity and Press

Publicity Contact: Amy Greeman (413) 346-2113
or amy.greeman@storey.com
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Photography © John Gruen

newspapers and online editions

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or call (800) 722-7202. Storey books are distributed in Canada by Thomas Allen & Son, LTD, (800) 387-4333.
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